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What is Computer?
Computer is an electronic data processing machine which accept input data and
process it in order to produce output information.
What is Data?

The numbers, letters or symbols entered by the user for processing is called data.
What is Information?

Information is processed data heaving clear meaning and context.

How many types of Computer Component?

The computers are combination of two components hardware and software:

Computer
Components

Hardware Software

1) Input devices
2) Processing devices
3) Storage devices System Application
4) Output devices Software Software
5) Communication
devices

Computer Hardware

All the physical part or devices of computer which can be seen or touched are called
computer hardware. The Computer Hardware can be divided into five categories.

Input devices
The input devices are used to send data into computer for processing, Keyboard,
Mouse, Microphone, Webcam ad scanner are example of input devices.
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Keyboard
The keyboard is an input device which is used to entered the data into computer in
alphabetic, numeric and alphanumeric format.
Most of the keyboards have the following five categories of keys:

a) Function Keys (F1 to F12).

b) Alphanumeric Keys (A-Z) and (0-9)
c) Numeric Keyboard
• 0-9 digits
• Arithmetic symbol: Addition (+), Subtraction (-), Multiplication (*),
Division (/)
• A decimal point (.)
• Num Lock Key
• Enter Key
d) Modifier Key Alt, Ctrl, Shift
e) Arrow Key

Mouse
The mouse is a pointing device which is used for different purposes such as, it opens
or close a file, navigation websites and select or deselects the various icons on the
screen.

Microphone
A microphone allows the user to input sound or music as data.

Webcam
A Webcam or web camera is used to capture the videos for live video calling using
Facebook, Skype etc. on Internet.

Scanner
Scanner is used to save a document and picture into computer in digital form.

Processing Devices
The device that processes input data and produces the information at output is called
as processing device.
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Storage Devices
The devices which are used to store (save) the data are known as storage devices.
The most common types of storage devices are hard disk, USB, CD/ DVD and external
hard disk.

Hard disk
The hard disk is a permanent storage device which holds the data permanently even
when the computer is turned off.

USB/ Flash Drive

USB Stands for Universal Serial Bus. Like a hard disk, it also saves the data
permanently. It is a portable storage device. It is also known as data traveler.

External Hard Disk

An external hard drive is a portable storage device that can attached to a computer
like a flash drive (USB).

CD
CD Stands for Compact Disk. CDs can hold up to 700 MB of Data or 80 minutes of
audio.

DVD
DVD Stands for Digital Versatile Disk. Like CDs and DVDs are also used for storing
data. DVD can store 4.7 GB of data or 2 hours of video.

Output Devices
The computer device which are used to display the processed data (information) are
called output devices. The information may be in the form of video, sound or a print
in a page.

Output Devices

Monitor Speakers Printer

(Display information) (Produce Sound) (Produce Hardcopy)
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Monitor
The term monitor is often used for computer screen or display. It is an output device
like a TV. There are two types of computer monitor.

Monitor

CRT LCD
(Cathode Ray Tube) (Liquid Crystal Display)

Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Monitor

Older Computer Monitor was built using cathode ray tube (CRT). The CRT monitors
are heaving as compared to LCD.

Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) Monitor

Most modern monitor are built using LCD technology and are commonly referred to
as flat screen display.

Printer
A printer is an output device that prints data (text or graphics) on the paper. Speed of
printer is measured in characters per second printers fall into the following
categories:

Printer

Dot matrix Inkjet Laser

Dot Matrix Printer

Dot Matrix is an old version of Printers which prints character by character. These
printers are often used in the various organizations, to print accounting records.
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Inkjet Printer
An inkjet printer produces hard copy by spraying ink on paper. Inkjet printer produces
high quality text and graphics as compared to dot matrix printer.

Laser Printer
The Laser printer is today’s most commonly used printer. It provides high quality
printing by using a laser beam. The laser printers are very fast as compared to inkjet
and dot matrix.

Communication devices
The communication devices are used to transmit the information form one place to
another. The Moden, USB Modem (Evo USB) are example of communication devices.

Software
The software is intangible part of computer system which cannot be touched. The
programs which are installed inside the computer are known as software. There are
two types of software.

Software

System Software Application Software

System Software
System software controls all the components of computer system, Provides a
platform to the user to run application and accesses the resources. Without system
software, computer machine can’t run.
Example: Windows , Linux , computer drivers

Application software
Application software ae designed for users only these software’s are developed ton
perform specific task.
For example: Word Processors are used to create documents like application and
letters. Media players are used to play songs and videos.
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How Computer works

Computer has four basic operations for performing any task

a. Input operation
b. Processing operation
c. Storage operation
d. Output operation

a. Input Operation: This is the process of taking data into the computer.

b. Processing Operation: All the process off calculating, manipulating,

monitoring. Decision making and controlling activities are known as processing
operation.
c. Storage Operation : The process of placing , retaining and keeping the data
instruction or any information is known as storage operation.
d. Output Operation: This is the process of taking data/information from the
computer.

Computer Memory Measurement

The smallest unit of computer memory is bit. The computer’s memory is measured
in term of bytes. The bytes equal to eight bits of memory. The following table shows
the various memory unit.

Unit Abbreviation Storage capacity

Bit Bit Binary digit single 1 or 0
Nibble - 4bits
Byte Byte 8 Bits
Kilo Byte KB 1024 Byte
Mega Byte MB 1024 KB
Giga Byte GB 1024 MB
Terra Byte TB 1024 GB
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Evolution of computers
On the basis of technology used, computers are classified into various generations as
shown in the following table.

Five Generations of the Computers

Technology
Generation Period Characteristics
Used
• Vary large in size, smaller storage capacity and very low
1940-1958

in speed
Vacuum
tube
First

• They could only solve one problem at a time

• Punched cards were used for input and printouts for
output
• Smaller, faster, cheaper and more efficient than the first
generations computer
1959-1964

Transistors
Second

• This generation computer also used the punched cards

for input and printouts for output.
• Consumed less electricity as compared to first
generation computers
• They were smaller and cheaper than precious two
Integrated Circuits

generations.
1964-1970

• Instead of punched cards and printouts, the keyboard

Third

(IC)

and monitors were used.

• They had an operating system which allowed the device
to run more than one application at a time.
• As the first generations computers filled an entire room
Microprocesso
1971-Present

but these computers cover a small space.

Fourth

• Portable, Reliable, cheap and easily available.

r

• They could be linked together to form networks.

• Concept on internet was introduced
• Very High Speed and storage capacity.
• Development of true artificial intelligence might
Intelligence (AI)
1989 – Future

overcome the lack of thinking ability.

Artificial

• The goal of fifth-generation computing is to develop

Fifth

device that responds to natural language

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Artificial Intelligence (AI)

A branch of computer science which makes the machine intelligent is called AI.

Integrated Circuit IC
Integrated circuit (IC) is the compact from of circuity. It is smaller than a finger nail.

Define a Internet
Internet stands for international network. It is actually a global computer network
providing a verity of information and communication facilities the internet is sometimes
called simply “NET” .

World wide web (www)

Define a world wide web
World wide web is also referred as the W3 or Web. Information can be accessed on the
internet through the world wide web. Web is an information system of interlinked
hypertext documents that are accessed via internet.

Website
A website is a collection of web pages that are connected and can be accessed by
visiting the home page using a browser every website has its address like
www.bushraparlor.com . a website can be maintained by an organization or an
individual. Every website address consisted of world wide web (WWW), domain named
and type.

Operating system (OS)

An operating system is a system software that communicates with the hardware and
allows other programs to run without operating system. Computer is useless because it
is comprised of the fundamental files your computer needs to work.

RAM : Random Access Memory

Ram stands for Random Access Memory. It is a temporary store data until power is
supplied.

ROM : Read Only Memory

ROM stands for Read Only Memory. It is a Permeant store data until power is supplied
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FULL FORM OF COMPUTER PARTS

RAM RANDOM ACCESS MEMORY

ROM READ ONLY MEMORY

CPU CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT

URL UNIFORM RESOURCE LOCATOR

USB UNIVERSAL SERIAL BUS
VIRUS VITAL INFORMATION RESOURCE UNDER SIEGE

PC PERSONAL COMPUTER

WWW WORLD WIDE WEB

WIFI WIRELESS FIDELITY

LCD LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY

LED LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE

CRT CATHODE RAY TUBE

HTML HYPER TEXT MARKUP LANGUAGE

PDF PORTABLE DOCUMENTS FORMAT

QR CODE QUICK RESPONSE CODE

BIOS BASIC INPUT/OUTPUT SYSTEM

PNG PORTABLE NETWORK GRAPHICS

OTP ONE TIME PASSWORD

OS OPERATING SYSTEM
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SHORTCUT KEYS
SHORTCUT FUNCTION
CTRL + A SELECT ALL TEXT/ITEMS
CTRL + B BOLD SELECTED TEXT
CTRL + C COPY SELECTED TEXT/ITEMS
CTRL + D OPEN FONT SETTINGS (WORD)
CTRL + E CENTER TEXT (WORD)
CTRL + F FIND/SEARCH
CTRL + G GO TO A SPECIFIC PAGE/LINE
CTRL + H REPLACE TEXT
CTRL + I ITALICIZE SELECTED TEXT
CTRL + J JUSTIFY TEXT (WORD)
CTRL + K INSERT HYPERLINK
CTRL + L ALIGN LEFT (WORD)
CTRL + M INDENT PARAGRAPH
CTRL + N NEW DOCUMENT OR WINDOW
CTRL + O OPEN FILE
CTRL + P PRINT
CTRL + Q REMOVE PARAGRAPH FORMATTING (WORD)
CTRL + R ALIGN RIGHT (WORD)
CTRL + S SAVE
CTRL + T NEW TAB (BROWSERS)
CTRL + U UNDERLINE SELECTED TEXT
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CTRL + V PASTE
CTRL + W CLOSE CURRENT WINDOW/TAB
CTRL + X CUT
CTRL + Y REDO
CTRL + Z UNDO